10 Things To Know Before Buying The 2022 Ford Edge ST

The 2022 Ford Edge ST has been launched in the United States for an MSRP of $46,635 and is the most powerful version of the regular Ford Edge lineup. Being the top of the line trim of the Ford Edge, it does get quite a few upgrades compared to the lower trim configurations, in the form of blacked-out wheels and grille, more interior and exterior features, and more safety and driver-assistance techs.

However, the major change from the regular Ford Edge lies under the hood, as it comes with a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 motor. The performance is a notch above the segment rivals, and this mid-size SUV could even smoke some of the performance coupes out there. The ride quality is pliant, and the interior is one of the most spacious in the segment. Competing with the Mazda CX-9, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 Ford Edge ST.

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10 Offers A Comfortable Ride

Even though the 2022 Ford Edge ST is the sportier version of the regular Ford Edge, as it comes with an impressive V6 motor, the ride quality hasn’t been compromised. Similar to the regular trims, the Edge ST managed to impress us with its ride quality due to the neutral suspension setup it comes with.

As a result, this mid-size SUV is a very comfortable place to be, especially at slow city speeds where it absorbs everything that the road have to offer. Even while driving on the highway, we found the ride to be more comfortable than its arch-rival, the 2022 Mazda CX-9. The body roll is well under control, and the spacious cabin and plush seats add to the comfort factor.

9 Gets A Punchy Powertrain

The major difference between the ST trim, when compared to the other four trims, has to be the mighty 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 motor that is capable of producing 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. It comes mated to a 7-speed SelectShift automatic transmission and the power is sent to the road via an AWD system. The firepower under the hood also helped the car to achieve 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds and the quarter-mile run in 14.7 seconds.

The performance turned out to be superior to the immediate rivals, like the Jeep Cherokee and the Chevrolet Blazer RS. The car offers punchy initial and mid-range acceleration, making it very effortless for driving in both the city and on the highway. The transmission is quick to respond and provides the right cog all the time. Being a twin-turbo motor, the turbo lag is well-masked as well.

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8 Not As Fun To Drive As The Mazda CX-9

If you expect the 2022 Ford Edge ST to be as fun to drive as the Mazda CX-9, you would be a bit disappointed. Even though the Edge ST comes with a powerful motor under the hood, the chassis and suspension don’t exactly make the car very sporty. The steering is another culprit which takes away the fun factor.

The suspension is tuned more for comfort, rather than corner carving. As a result, the car does have more body roll and less grip, when compared to the CX-9. The steering, even with its great precision, doesn’t offer the same level of feel and feedback you would expect from a powerful model.

7 Decent Fuel Efficiency

Fuel efficiency may not be high up on your list if you are looking for the 2022 Ford Edge ST. However, we are happy to report that it managed to be a reasonably frugal offering in the segment, especially when compared to the MPG of the less powerful rivals that are sold at a similar price.

The 2022 Ford Edge ST managed 19 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway. The combined gas mileage of 21 MPG is not bad considering its performance. However, the 18.5-gallon fuel tank capacity is the worst of the segment, and that results in a range of 463 miles on the highway. In comparison, the Jeep Cherokee could do 615 miles on the highway due to its 24.6-gallon fuel tank capacity.

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6 Quite Spacious

The space has always been the forte of the second generation Ford Edge, which arrived in the United States market back in 2015. Even after all these years, it is still a notch above most of its rivals. The front seat passengers would admire the best in class headroom and legroom, and the shoulder space is decent too.

The same is also the case with the rear seat, which could accommodate three adults very comfortably. The leather upholstery and the wide front and rear armrests also add to the comfort of the passengers. The trunk capacity of 39.2 cu ft is also superior to the Cherokee and the Blazer RS.

5 Gets Many Safety Features As Standard

The driver-assistance features, like automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, etc., are standard for the 2022 Ford Edge ST. Apart from that, it also comes loaded with all the basic safety techs like airbags, ABS with EBD, AdvaceTrac, blindspot monitoring, collision mitigation, and reverse camera, all of which help the Edge ST to be a very safe proposition.

Being entirely constructed from high-tensile steel and aluminum, we have nothing to complain about regarding the build quality of the 2022 Ford Edge ST. The exterior panels feel rigid and would resist the minor impacts that are bound to happen during daily driving. The 5-star crash safety rating in the NHTSA crash test and the 2022 top safety pick title from the IIHS also suggests the superb safety performance it showcases.

4 Interior Looks Boring

Similar to the exterior design language, which has seen no major changes in the past seven years, the interior also feels a bit long in the tooth. Get into the front seat of the 2022 Ford Edge ST and you are not going to be wowed by the design of the dashboard and door cards, especially when compared to the Hyundai Palisade and the Kia Telluride.

The ebony-colored interior doesn’t look very airy and what makes the matters worse is the simple and outdated dashboard with silver accents around the center console and the AC vents. The only saving grace is the massive infotainment system, which does help make the interior look more modern. The optional panoramic sunroof is a neat addition to make the cabin more classy.

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3 Cabin Quality Is Mediocre At Best

The interior quality has been one of the biggest complaints of this generation of the Ford Edge and even though it has improved quite a bit, it is still no match for the Japanese and Korean rivals. The good thing is that most of the touchpoints in the form of upper portions of the dashboard, seats, and door cards come with soft-touch materials.

We also like the leather upholstery and leather-wrapped steering wheel, both of which feel premium. However, the switchgear present in the center console feels cheap and may not be able to last the vehicle’s lifetime. Our biggest gripe has to be the terrible fit and finish this SUV offers. Many areas come with uneven panel gaps and fitment issues, and that is not expected from an SUV that costs $46,635.

2 Top-Notch Braking Performance

Give a slight dab on the brake pedal of the 2022 Ford Edge ST to understand the excellent initial bite this SUV has to offer. The 13.6″ front and rear rotors of the Edge ST along with all the other braking features onboard help the car to anchor down from any speeds with utmost comfort and confidence.

The braking progression is superb too, and the brake pedal offers more than adequate feedback to the driver, which definitely helps in boosting the confidence level. The brake pedal is adequately firm and the front-end dive is minimal. The ABS only kicks in when it is absolutely necessary, and the 70-0 mph braking distance of 178 feet is in the same ballpark as the rivals, too.

1 Sync 4A Infotainment Is Unmatched

The Edge ST gets the latest Sync 4A infotainment system, and we found it to be better than what most of the rivals offer. The 12″ touchscreen display is very bright and sharp, and it is a joy to use even on the brightest of days. The user interface is very intuitive, and the learning curve is non-existent. Everything is present where it should be, and the icons are large.

All the features that you would expect from infotainment in this day and age like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM radio, navigation, voice recognition, Bluetooth, audio streaming, adaptive dash cards, and cloud connectivity are offered as standard. When it comes to the audio experience, the Bang & Olufsen 12-speaker audio system simply outshines all the offerings of the mid-size SUV segment with ease.

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